Pipe-laying machine



Aug. 27, 1 929.

M. W. KNORR PIPE LAYING MACHINE File d Nov. 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Aug. 27, 1 929. M.,w. KNORR PIPE LAYING MACHINE Filed NOV. .1927. 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAX WILLIAM KNORR, 0F MAYWOOD, ILLINOIS.

PIPE-LAYING MACHINE.

Application filed November 8, 1927. Serial No. 231,972.

My invention relates to improvements in pipe laying machines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved mechanismof simple but rugged construction which can be economicallymanufactured, and which will be efficient in operation.

In the laying of pipes, such as water pipes and other conduits underground, it frequently is necessary to place the same under paved streetswhich by municipal ordinance can not be opened up, and it thus becomesnecessary to tunnel or bore an opening for the pipe to be laid. Thepresent improvements are particularly adapted for such use, although notlimited thereto as I contemplate the use of the improvements whereverdesired and as a substitute for the trench method of laying pipes.

In the use of the present machine in laying a long stretch of pipe, anopening is made in the ground to receive the mechanism at the properlevel and inclination, and preferably of such size as to providesufficient room for the necessary Work-men. Vhen several sec tions ofpipe have been laid, which may be just a few, or-a. largennumberdepending on the capacity of the particular machine being used, themachine is removed to another hole and a second stretch of pipe is laid,the two stretches bein later connected to form a continuous pipe line.

The invention is broadly characterized by the provision of a supportingframe or base having thereon a sliding carriage provided with a suitablepower unit, such as an electric motor, which operates a drill carried onthe forward end of a screw conveyor shaft, the conveyor being arrangedto operate in the pipe section being laid and adapted for conveying theearth through the pipe to the rear thereof whence it is remoyed bywork-men or by suitable apparatus. A feeding mechanism is also employedwhich feeds the car rier, drill, conveyor and pipe forwardly inaccordance with the capacity of the drill, and when the first section ofthe pipe has been laid, the conveyor shaft is disconnected from thepower unit and the carriage then moved to retracted position. A secondpipe section containing a second conveyor section is then positioned onthe machine, the pipe sections are joined in the usual manner, theconveyor sections are connected together, and the second conveyorsection is-placed in driving engagement with the power unit, and aftermoved to a second hole as above described for laying additional lengthsof pipe.

Additional objects of the invention relate to various features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts'which will be apparent from aconsideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings,where- 1n:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a machine embodying the improvements,parts being broken away for the purpose of clearness.

r Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Fig. 2" is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional'view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,illustrating the pipe clamping device, parts being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 47-4: of Fig. 1 showingthe forward end of the device, and illustrating a bearing for centeringthe conveyor relatively to the pipe being laid.

gig. 5 is a modified form of the invention, an

Fig. 6 is a broken plan view thereof illustrating certain details of thecarriage actuating mechanism.

In the drawings 10,10 are a pair of longitudinal base or supporting sillmembers consisting preferably of steel I beams. The sills areheld inspaced relation by means of transverse plates 11, 12, at the forward andnear the rear ends respectively. A power unit, such as motor 13 issecured to a sliding carriage member 14 which extends transversely ofthe sills 10 and has flanges 15, 15 which engage the top flanges of thesills to prevent displacement of the carriage. The motor shaft 16carries a pinion 17 which meshes with a gear 18 on the short shaft 19which is supported in the journal 20 secured to the carriage 14. Thegear 18 drives the gear 21 on the shaft 22 which is supported injournals 21 and 23. The forward end of the shaft 22 is enlarged to forma head 22 which" is adapted to be connected by any suitable means to theconveyor shaft 24, the'means shown being a slot and tongue connection 25and a pin 25 for preventing disengagement of the members.

' on the forward V shaped portion of the plate 14,and is held againstrotation by the toothed jaws 29 carried on the threaded stem 30 whichpasses through a threaded opening in the cross bar 31, a hand wheel 32being provided for operating the clamping device, as shown.

' The bar 31 is removably secured by pins 33 to the vertical standards34, a number of holes being provided in the members 34 for rendering thebar adjustable to accommodate pipe of different sizes. The standards 34are shown as being made of T irons and the crossbar 31 as being slottedfor sliding vertically thereon. (See Fig. 2.) The standards 34 aresecured to the carriage plate 14 by any suitable means, and as will beseen a pipe held by the clamping device will be carried forward, or tothe right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, when the plate or carriage 14 ismoved longitudinally of the sills 10. The cross-bar 31 may be removedfor convenience in positioning the pipe and conveyor sectionsin themachine.

For feeding the mechanism forwardly on the sills during the operation ofthe drill, a pair of worm shafts 35, 35 may be provided as shown inFigures 1 .to 4. The shafts are supported at both ends in suitablethrust bearings 36, 36 which are secured to the end or trans versevplates 11, 12. The shafts 35 pass through threaded lugs 37 (see Fig. 3)secured to the lower side of the carriage 14. It will thus be seen thatas the shafts 35 are rotated in one direction, the carriage 14 will moveto the'right as vi wed in Figures 1 and 2; and to the left when they areoperated in the opposite direction.

The feeding shafts 35 may be operated if desired by power derived fromthe motor 13 by suitable power take-off mechanism, but in themodifications of the invention herein disclosed, manually operable meansare employed and may consist of a handwheel 38 on the shaft 39 which isjournalled in a standaid 40 secured tov the sills 10 or other stationaryportion of the machine. A beveled drive pinion 41 is secured to theshaft 39 and drives the shaft 42 through the gear 43. Worms 44 aresecured to the shaft 42 and mesh with wormgears 35 secured on shafts 35as shown in Fig. 2. From the foregoing 'itwill be understood that thecarriage 14 can be moved forwardlyof the base by operating the wheel 38,thus feeding the drill to the work.

The drill head 27 cuts an opening of a diameter suflicient to admit thepipe 28, and delivers the earth into the pipe through which it isconveyed by the conveyor 26. --f-' vided at the forward end of the pipeon the conveyor shaft 24, but preferably unattached to the pipe. Thebearing serves to keep ,t

conveyor concentric with the pipe and over-1;.

comes the gravitational tendency of the drill to cut in a downwardlyinclined path. A transverse plate 46, secured to the sills 10, supportsthe pipe at the forward end of the maadjacent the rear end of the pipeas above.

mentioned. As the'device o erates the hand wheel 38 is rotated slowly ya work-man.

. Rotation of the hand wheel causes the shaft 42 to turn which by meansof the worms 44 cause the feeding shafts 35 to rotate. These shafts 35,which pass through the lugs 37 cause the carriage 14, the motor 13, theclamp e If'desired a spider bearing 45 may be pro? :5

ing mechanism, pipe 28, conveyor 26, and.

drill 27 to be fed forwardly, as will be clear.

lVhen the pipe section has been embedded} nearly its entire length, themotor is stopped,

the shafts 21 and 24 uncoupled, and the hand wheel rotated in adirection to move the carriage to the left handposition shown in thedrawings, Figs. 1 and 2. The 'cross bar 31 of the clamping device isthen removed and a new pipe section and corresponding length of conveyorare inserted in the machine, the

pipes and conveyor sections being, respectively, connected together. Therear end of the new conveyor section is then connected to the countershaft 22 and the clamping device is tightened on the pipe, the motorstarted, and the feeding mechanism operated as before.

In Figures 5 and6 of the drawings the drill driving mechanism issubstantiallythe same as above described, but the feeding shafts 35 areomitted and the feeding of the machine is effected by means of suitablecables. In this modification of the invention a sprocket wheel 46issupported at the rear of the base 10 by means of astandard 47 a crank48 being employed for operating the sprocket which drives the wheel 49by means of the chain 50. A transverse shaft 51 is rotated by the wheel49, the shaft being journaled in bearings 52 secured to the-sill or basemembers 10.

Carried on the shaft 51 are winding drums 53,53, aroundwhich are cables54, 54. One end of each cable is connected to the rear of the carriage14, a suitable bracket 14 being provided for making such attachment," ifdesired. The other ends of the cables pass around sheaves 55, 55 at theforward end of the base and thence to a suitable portion of thecarriage. By means of this arrangement the carriage can be moved alongthe sills to the work as in the previously described form of theinvention. 1

As shown in Figure 2, the plate or carriage member 14. may be providedwith openings 56 and 57 for accommodating portions of the movingmechanism and to permit the removal of loose earth, if desired. f

-Although I have shown certain features 0 my improvements for thepurpose of illustration, it will be apparent that various changes andalterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be restricted to the specific formsshown and described exceptwhere limitations thereto appear in thefollowing claims. I

hat I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described compris-' ing a pair of sillmembers, cross plates thereon, a slidable carriage on said sills, apower unit on said carriage movable therewith for operating a drill, apipe holding device associated with said carriage, and means for feedingsaid carriage and device longitudinally of said sill comprising athreaded shaft journaled on said cross plates.

2. A pipe laying device comprising a base, a carriage slidable thereon,a drill, a conveyor associated therewith for removingthe earth displacedby the drill, a pipe to be laid in which said conveyor operates, acarriage slid able on said base, a power unit and pipe holding means onsaid carriage for respectively operating said drill and'holding saidpipe against rotation, and means for moving said carriage. forwardly tofeed the drill to the Work and force the pipe into the opening made bythe drill.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a drill, a conveyor forremoving the earth displaced by the drill, a pipe to be laid in whichsaid conveyor operates, a slidable power unit for actuating said drilland conveyor, a pipe clamping device for holding said pipe againstrotation, said device being slidable with said unit, and feeding meansfor feeding said drill to the work and forcing said pipe into theopening made by the drill.

4. Apparatus of the class described coinprising a base having a pair ofspaced sills provided with outwardly turned flanges at the top thereof,a carriage comprising a plate spanning said sills and having slidingengagement with said flanges, a pipe clamping device movable with saidcarriage for engaging a movable with said carriage, said device having abase shaped to receive a pipe to be laid and having a toothed member forengaging the upperside of said pipe, a transverse plate between theforward ends of said sills and constituting a guide and support for saidpipe as the latter is moved with said carriage, and means for actuatingsaid carriage longitudinally of said sills, said means comprising a pairof members extending longitudinally of said sills in operativeengagement with said carriage and operating mechanism for actuating saidmembers.

-6. Apparatus for laying pipe comprising a supporting base having a pairof longitudinally flanged members, a carriage slidably engaging saidflanges, a power unit and pipe clamping means movable with saidcarriage, a conveyor extendlng longitudinally of sa1d base and havingdetachable engagement with said power unit, a drill head carried by theforward end of said conveyor, a pipe to be laid within which saidconveyor operates, said pipe being held against rotation by saidclamping means, a removable bearing in the forward end of said pipe forholding said conveyor and drill in concentric alinement with said pipe,and means for advancing said drill, conveyor, and pipe simultaneously.

7 A machine for laying pipes under ground comprising a pair of flangedsill members, cross plates secured thereto, a threaded shaft journalledin said plates, a carriage having sliding engagement with said flanges,a mem ber secured to the carriage and depending therefrom intocooperating relation with the threads of said shaft whereby when saidshaft is rotated said carriage will be moved longitudinally of saidsills, means for rotating said shaft, power actuated drill means carriedby said carriage in parallel relation with said sills, and a clampingdevice movable with said carriage and being adapted to carry a pipe tobe laid and to feed the same forwardly into the hole made by the drillmeans,

In witness whereof I have subscribed my name.

MAX WILLIAM LKNORR.

